SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas walked off winners for the second consecutive day Monday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Angel Franco laid down a perfect squeeze bunt single to score pinch-runner Terrance Gore from third to give the Naturals a 3-2 victory over Arkansas in 10 innings.
Northwest Arkansas 3, Arkansas 2 (10)
Arkansas^000^020^000^0^—2^9^0
Northwest Arkansas^011^000^000^3^7^0
One out when winning run scored.
Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Johnson, S, 2B^4^0^2^0^0^2^1^.207
Maggi, SS^4^0^1^0^0^0^3^.302
Towey, RF^4^0^1^0^0^2^0^.250
Hernandez, B, 3B^4^0^1^0^0^0^0^.291
Hinkle, 1B^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.243
Davis, Ke, DH^4^0^0^0^0^0^0^.223
Myers, LF^4^1^2^0^0^0^0^.247
Bemboom, C^4^1^1^0^0^1^1^.213
Mitchell, J, CF^3^0^1^2^0^1^0^.143
Totals^35^2^9^2^0^7^7^
BATTING
3B: Mitchell, J. RBI: Mitchell, J 2 (2). RISP: 1-for-4. LOB: 3.
CS: Maggi (3, 2nd base by Binford/Gibbs).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Franco, 2B^5^0^2^1^0^1^0^.341
Mondesi, SS^4^1^3^0^0^1^0^.294
Bonifacio, J, RF^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.231
a-Davis, L, PH-LF^1^0^0^0^1^1^0^.000
Fuenmayor, 1B^3^0^0^1^0^0^3^.362
Dozier, 3B^3^0^0^0^1^1^1^.233
Bianucci, DH^4^0^0^0^0^2^4^.311
Liddi, LF-RF^4^0^1^0^0^1^0^.261
1-Gore, PR^0^1^0^0^0^0^0^.293
Gibbs, C^3^1^1^1^0^1^0^.343
Chapman, CF^3^0^0^0^1^1^0^.200
Totals^30^3^7^3^3^9^8^
a-Hit a sacrifice bunt for Bonifacio, J in the 1st.
1-Ran for Liddi in the 10th.
BATTING
2B: Liddi. HR: Gibbs. RBI: Gibbs (8), Fuenmayor (29), Franco (17). SAC: Davis, L 2; Gibbs. SF: Fuenmayor.
RISP: 1-for-5. LOB: 6. SB: Mondesi. CS: Mondesi.
Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
McGowin^6.0^5^2^2^2^2^1^6.19
Adams, A^2.0^0^0^0^0^6^0^0.00
Brady (L, 0-2)^1.1^2^1^1^1^1^0^2.95
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Binford^7.0^8^2^2^0^5^0^2.57
Peterson, M (W, 3-0)^3.0^1^0^0^0^2^0^2.55
Umpires: HP: Mike Cascioppo. 1B: Jake Wilburn. 3B: Scott Costello.
T: 2:35. Att: 2,973.
Northwest Arkansas used a Hunter Dozier solo home run to walk off winners on Sunday against Springfield, but used small ball against its in-state rivals.
The Naturals (25-12) now lead the Texas League North Division by 3.5 games over the Travelers.
Naturals manager Vance Wilson joked that someone was giving him a hard time about having catcher Micah Gibbs working on bunting in batting practice on Monday. But it worked out well.
"I actually had Gibbs out bunting early today and someone was giving me trouble about it," Wilson said. "So it's kind of funny to be able to do something like that. "The guys did good. Obviously situational baseball. Situational hits, the bunts, all that stuff."
It was Gibbs' sacrifice bunt that moved Gore to third with one out in the 10th inning to set up the eventual game-winner by Franco. The Travelers intentionally walked Ethan Chapman to put runners at first and third before Franco laid down the perfect bunt between the pitcher and first baseman to score Gore.
The Naturals continue a torrid pace, winning for the 19th time in their last 22 games and Wilson said his team has tried to approach the season one series at a time.
"I think last year, we were young and we were just trying to get through the season," Wilson said. "We are really trying to prepared in four-game blocks. The guys have responded and they are fun to watch."
Arkansas manager Bill Richardson acknowledged his team missed a scoring chance or two early against Naturals starter Christian Binford, but ultimately just came up short in a good ballgame.
"Bottom line is two good clubs having at it," Richardson said. "Those two ground-ball double plays were pretty big.
Short Hops:
• Naturals catcher Micah Gibbs hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning to give Northwest Arkansas a 1-0 lead.
• Northwest Arkansas came into Monday's game ranked second in the Texas League in double plays with 36 and turned three more on Monday.
• Naturals starting pitcher Miguel Almonte earned Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday. The right-hander went 2-0 in pitching 10 scoreless innings over two starts. He allowed just four hits and struck out five.
Extra Bases: Naturals starter Christian Binford allowed two runs on eight hits over the first seven innings, throwing 100 pitches. .... Northwest Arkansas first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor was named Texas League Player of the Week on Monday, but had his 14-game hitting streak stopped. ... Alex Liddi snapped a string of 12 straight Naturals retired with his double leading off the 10th inning.
On Deck: The Naturals will send left-hander Jonathan Dziedzic (1-2, 3.38 ERA) to the mound tonight for a 7:05 first pitch in his first start after his return from Triple-A Omaha. He will try to rebound from a rough start against Round Rock on Thursday in which he allowed eight runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings. Arkansas will start right-hander Albert Suarez (3-3, 2.57 ERA). He has won his last two starts.
Today's Promotion: Arvest Bank customers may purchase buy one, get one free premium or reserved tickets at the box office. In addition, groups of 20 or more may purchase reserved tickets for half price, if bought in advance. Brats are also $1.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 05/19/2015